Lean Assessment Process

Inspired by core lean principles, a lean assessment process is critical for starting and/or sustaining the standardized process focused on eliminating waste and creating value.

In this straight forward five step lean assessment process, we’ll identify the project scope, analyze the current state, develop a process plan, propose the compelling business case for that plan and actively measure the results of the implementation. The goal is to initiate a sustainable process if the business is just beginning or get the process back on track if the prior start was not successful or has stalled.

Our fundamental aim is to tailor a continuous improvement process plan to the client’s needs and requirements that delivers a strong return on their investment.

Step 1: Project Scope
The first part of our lean assessment focuses on asking questions, gathering input and listening to the various stakeholders. The Prosit team works with each client to identify their current needs, roadblocks and special requirements for starting the lean process or recommitting to a stalled lean journey. Questions would be specific to each client, but common ones include issues with leadership challenges, new production lines, supply chains, workforce shortages or changing market realities. Understanding the underlying issues driving problems allows us to establish actionable goals and ambitious, but sustainable, deadlines for implementation.

Step 2: Current State Analysis
Once the project scope is defined, Prosit will engage with the operations team to identify potential areas for process improvement that save time, reduce cost and create value. The current state will be analyzed and mapped with input from all the relevant parties. Gaps in coverage, inefficient tasks and other red flags will be surfaced and plans made to handle them. Documentation of each of these steps will be precise so no institutional knowledge or opportunities are lost.

Step 3: Lean Assessment Plan
Now that the scope is defined and the current state understood, the planning process can kick off in earnest. By applying lean principles along with services such as 5S, Visual Factory, Kaizen and Kanban, Prosit develops a strategic plan to drive value by eliminating waste and increasing efficiency in a systematic way. Our ultimate goals are to increase predictability of workforce performance and to limit the amount of rework. With less waste and higher productivity, the return on investment will improve.

Step 4: The Business Case
All the planning and preparation has got to have a purpose, right? Absolutely. The lean assessment process’ next step is to mold the work from the first three steps into a coherent and measurable business case leadership can support and implement. Verifiable data is at the heart of any business case and this is no exception. Recommendations are backed by metrics that have been measured and quantified.

Step 5: Track & Measure Results
The final step in our lean assessment process is to provide you with a plan for tracking results. Each client has unique data approval and reporting requirements that will be factored into the plan. The metrics utilized and the levels of complexity of detail depend on the client’s needs. Again, Prosit’s fundamental aim is to tailor a continuous improvement process plan to the client’s needs and requirements that delivers a strong return on their investment. The client will be empowered to make informed decisions and adjust as the lean process continues.

Please contact us for help with any of your lean assessment and continuous improvement projects. Our proven process will make it a successful endeavor.